Adaptation to the Bologna Process: The Case of Turkey

Verda Gizem Furuzan

Abstract

The Bologna Declaration of 19 June 1999 was signed by 29 ministers responsible from higher education in their countries. The explicit purposes of the Bologna Process were to increase the comparability and readability of degrees across all member state higher education systems. The aim of the Bologna Process is to have a common bachelor’s–master’s–doctorate system in all of European Union member countries. The Bologna Process is the process of creating the European Higher Education Area and is based on cooperation between ministries, higher education institutions, students and staff from 47 countries, with the participation of international organizations. It has been a major reform initiative in the last two decades. This article describes with the dynamics of Bologna Process and the European Union’s growth and jobs strategy. It concentrates on the origins and applicability of the Bologna Process. Further, it reviews the applications and implementation of the Bologna Process in the Turkish higher education system. Besides, its effects to Turkish higher education sector are discussed.